(fwd) PRESS RELEASE: HWG Supports Web Standards Project

FYI, may be of interest to those of you who were following the
Ann-Kynn debate. :)

>Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 15:37:16 -0700
>To: hwg-announce@hwg.org
>From: Kynn Bartlett <kynn@idyllmtn.com>
>Subject: PRESS RELEASE:  HWG Supports Web Standards Project
>
>          HTML WRITERS GUILD SUPPORTS WEB STANDARDS PROJECT
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           Contact: Kynn Bartlett, VP Marketing
>August 10, 1998 1:00 PM PDT             (909) 607-7771, kynn@hwg.org  
>Carmel Valley, CA                            Ann Navarro, VP Finance
>                                         (831) 659-8311, ann@hwg.org
>
>Web designers shouldn't have to waste 20% of their time just because
>the browser makers can't follow standards.  That's the message the
>HTML Writers Guild, the world's largest organization of web authors,
>is sending to Microsoft, Netscape, and other software publishers by
>supporting the Web Standards Project.
>
>The Web Standards Project is a collective effort by leading web
>designers and concerned end users dedicated to halting the
>fragmentation of the web by persuading browser makers to conform to
>the established web standards.
>
>"All members of the HWG can benefit from the efforts of the Web
>Standards Project," said Ann Navarro, HWG Vice President of Finance
>and a founding member of the WSP.  "Web developers and students
>of HTML spend quite a bit of time learning the quirks of each
>browser, and which features of established standards are or are
>not supported. That time, effort, and expense could be better
>used learning new skills, enhancing current projects, or creating
>new content."
>
>"Support for web standards is long, long overdue," said Joe Cline,
>HWG President.  "The WSP's goals mesh well with the mission of the
>Guild:  providing education on the current state of affairs on the
>Web, and encouraging compliance with the standards set by the
>World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)."
>
>The Guild is a strong supporter of the W3C's standards, recently
>mandating the use of HTML 4.0 and CSS2 on the HWG website, and
>encouraging standards compliance by Guild members.  In addition,
>the Guild is a strong proponent of universal accessibility in web
>design.
>
>Browsers play a critical role in authoring accessible pages,
>according to the results of the Guild's recently concluded
>Accessibility Guidelines Implementation (AGI) project.
>
>"We had more than fifty web designers exploring the issue of
>designing with accessibility for disabled users," said Kynn
>Bartlett, HWG Vice President of Marketing and Outreach, and AGI
>project coordinator.  "They identified 'better accessibility
>support in browsers' as the biggest single factor that could lead
>to better usability for everyone.  The browser companies need to
>get on the ball and support the accessibility features in HTML
>4.0 and CSS2."
>
>The HTML Writers Guild plans to educate and inform their members
>about the Web Standards Project, and how they can get involved
>with the WSP's efforts.
> 
>"The Guild's membership in the W3C gives the average web author
>representation in the standards creation process; our involvement
>in the WSP encourages our members to help with the next step: 
>Compliance with those standards," explained Charlotte Crothers,
>HWG Vice President of Member Education.
>
>                              -##-
>
>About the HWG:
>The HTML Writers Guild represents a membership of over 70,000 web
>designers in 130 nations, and is an active participant in the
>World Wide Web Consortium, the international organization that
>sets the standards for the web.  HWG projects include mailing
>lists for members, online classes, and extensive web development
>resources.  The Guild's website is http://www.hwg.org/.
>
>About the Web Standards Project:
>The WSP's primary objective is to advance the Web development
>industry, by bringing attention to the existing and potential
>problems involved with browser incapatibility. The coalition urges
>browser manufactures to use open standards and support existing
>W3C standards. The WSP's website is http://www.webstandards.org/.
>
>****
>HWG-Announce is a one-way list for official HTML Writers Guild announcements.
>Please see http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-announce/ for more information.
>
>
--
Kynn Bartlett <kynn@hwg.org>
Vice President, Marketing and Outreach, HTML Writers Guild
  http://www.hwg.org

Received on Monday, 10 August 1998 18:41:08 UTC